Why did Christ have to die—did God merely allow it or did He direct it?
God permitted Christ's death and also directed it, because it had to happen to purchase salvation. The cross was necessary to satisfy a holy and righteous God, and without that work no one would ever be saved—not even under the Old Testament economy.
Les explains that Romans 8:33 says Christ died and God let him, meaning God permitted it to happen, but He also directed it really that it happened. The death of Christ had to occur in order to purchase our salvation. There would have never been a man saved, not even in the Old Testament economy, without the work of the cross. It had to be to satisfy a holy and righteous God. Les also points out that Romans 8 shows all three persons of the triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit—three distinct entities, yet one God.
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.